Chapter 75: The Awakening of the “Chuunibyou”?!

No one knows when it began, but a strange power emerged in this world—Extraordinary Abilities.

Research has shown that eighteen is a crucial age; the closer one is to this threshold, the higher the chance of awakening such power, while the probability decreases as one ages. Even so, those who awaken remain exceedingly rare.

Investigations revealed that all awakened individuals establish a mental connection with an unknown space, from which they draw their extraordinary abilities. There are many types of these spaces, and the abilities gained depend on the nature of the connected space. These are collectively called Ability Spaces.

When awakened individuals engage in combat, the energy from their Ability Spaces overflows, creating a region known as the Inner Space, which overlays reality. Any battle within the Inner Space does not affect the real world.

To ensure peace and prosperity, all awakened individuals are obligated to confine their battles within the Inner Space, preventing harm to reality.

Led and funded by the World Government, the awakened have formed their own organization, the House of Awakened, to provide services for every awakened individual.

…

It was no wonder that Otto would say this world was somewhat dull and lacking in knowledge to be gained. If one cannot become awakened, this is simply a mundane world. Even if one does awaken, conducting research without specialized laboratories is nearly impossible. Thus, this world serves mainly to hone one’s ability to explore.

Lando, however, was different.

While he perused the data, his intangible Heartspace had already spread out, locating the so-called Ability Spaces. If he wished, he could connect to any one of them at any moment and become awakened, yet he was in no rush to choose.

Within these Ability Spaces, he found that, aside from the usual elements like wind, fire, water, and earth, there were also spaces containing special powers like telekinesis, psychic abilities, metal manipulation, and spatial manipulation. This discovery delighted Lando, as it offered strong support for a recent idea of his—a solution delivered just when he needed it most.

He began to analyze these powers through his Heartspace, though one thing troubled him: his Heartspace could only reach those spaces relatively “near” to him. The deeper ones were beyond his reach—he could only “sense” their presence, never truly “grasp” them.

“It seems that, to analyze more distant Ability Spaces, I’ll need to find other methods.”

Muttering to himself, he turned his attention to an announcement posted at the House of Awakened.

Who will be the next King of the World!!!

…

At that moment, Alice appeared as a delicate, pretty schoolgirl, wandering aimlessly down the street, glancing here and there with idle curiosity.

Suddenly, a bell rang from her pocket. She pulled out her phone to see a new email had arrived. It was from Lando, apologizing for being unable to join her due to his desire for research, and briefly outlining the world’s secrets.

Alice wrinkled her lovely little nose but, being used to an arcanist’s ways, simply thought, “I understand, I understand.”

“Awakened, is it? This could be interesting!”

…

After careful consideration, Lando finally chose to connect with the Telekinesis Ability Space.

The Spatial Ability was also appealing, but he did not choose it because it overlapped with some of his Heartspace’s functions; the only additional power was teleportation, and it hardly seemed worthwhile to choose an entire ability for that alone.

No sooner had he made his choice—and before he could even familiarize himself with his new power—the government and House of Awakened representatives arrived at his door. Only then did Lando realize they must possess some kind of detection device capable of pinpointing newly awakened individuals. It made sense: if an awakened person used their powers for evil and the authorities couldn’t even find them, the world’s stability would be impossible to maintain.

After Lando opted for the relatively more lenient House of Awakened system, the government representatives seemed a bit disappointed but still took their leave with courtesy.

A month later, Lando was participating in the House of Awakened’s World King Tournament.

His opponent stood before him—a young man dressed in a sharp black suit, perched atop a utility pole, head tilted at a forty-five-degree angle toward the moon, eyes full of melancholy. This was Lando’s challenger.

From what Lando could see, the youth had maintained this pose for over five minutes.

On a distant rooftop stood another figure, facing the moon, his back tall and straight, the House of Awakened staff jacket draped over his shoulders, flapping dramatically in the wind—clearly the referee for this match!

The entire scene gave Lando a distinct sense of foreboding.

After a moment’s hesitation, Lando spoke. “Hello, my name is—”

“Weaklings are not worthy of my remembering their names. If you wish to state your name, first show me your strength.” Even as he spoke, the youth continued to gaze at the moon, as if utterly unconcerned by Lando’s arrival.

“…”

At that moment, the referee’s voice rang out from afar. He turned his head slightly, half his face shrouded in shadow. “Since everyone is here, let us begin.”

He clenched his fist and struck upward toward the sky. “Shatter, reality! Collapse, spirit! Banish this world!”

It was as if his fist shattered the heavens. Color was drained from the world, centered on him, then a brilliant crimson filled the void.

“??!!”

There is little to say about the battle itself. Lando’s opponent wielded the power of wind, but it differed from the ordinary elemental kind. Because of this, Lando held back and prolonged the fight. Once he had thoroughly analyzed both the youth’s wind power and the referee’s fire ability used to shape the battlefield, Lando dispatched his opponent with swift efficiency.

“So, Lando, is it? Congratulations on advancing. Your next match is in three days; the location will be announced later.” Without another word, the referee collapsed the battlefield and vanished.

As the Inner Space dissipated, Lando noticed that all the flowers and grass damaged during the fight had been completely restored.

The youth approached and solemnly declared, “Lando, you are indeed the rival destined for Shao Rushen. Thirty years the river flows east, thirty years west—one day, I shall settle today’s score with you!”

“…”

Watching the youth walk away and recalling the day’s events, Lando was at a loss for words, overwhelmed by the sheer absurdity.

Three days later.

A boy wielding psychic abilities.

“I have despaired of this world, but never of myself.”

“…”

Another three days.

A girl with the power to generate force fields.

“Though I am called the Queen, I am still but human. How foolish, and how sorrowful.”

“…”

Three days after that.

A boy who could transform into steel.

“My will is like rock. My body, steel. Rather than accept the humiliation of defeat, I choose to embrace a glorious death!”

“…”

…

Battle after battle left Lando mentally and physically exhausted. Physical fatigue could be easily alleviated, but the weariness of the mind seemed impossible to dispel. Worse yet, something truly alarming had begun to happen.

With each encounter, he found himself increasingly influenced by his opponents. Lines that once struck him as unbearably cringeworthy no longer seemed so intolerable. Some phrases even drifted through his mind, and more than once, he nearly blurted them out during battle.

How terrifying!

P.S.: Fortunately, my dear readers are as enthusiastic as ever, sparing me the awkwardness of talking to myself. But up to now, no one has guessed the real answer. Here are two more hints:

One: Heartspace is only a prerequisite, unrelated in itself to “that”—it is not a spatial ability.

Two: What is gained in this world will greatly enhance “that.”

Be careful not to be misled by the author's words—think about Lando’s actions.